National Press Club Says Release of Al Jazeera Journalist a Positive Step

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Feb 01, 2015, 09:33 ET

WASHINGTON, Feb. 1, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The National Press Club said Egypt's release of Al Jazeera journalist Peter Greste is encouraging and renewed its call for the release of other reporters being held.

News reports on Sunday said Greste, an Australian, was released and deported to Cyprus after being held in Egypt for 400 days. He had been arrested in December 2013 and tried on charges such as providing assistance to the Muslim Brotherhood and spreading untrue information, according to the news reports.

The National Press Club has called for the release of Greste and his colleagues numerous times, including on Jan. 15, when President Myron Belkind made an appeal to Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi on Belkind's last day in office.

"We are encouraged that Egypt has released Peter Greste,'' National Press Club President John Hughes said. "We are hopeful that Greste's colleagues will now go free after being imprisoned only because they were doing their jobs.''

Egypt's Court of Cassation ordered a retrial of Greste and his two colleagues on Jan. 1, 2015. Following their convictions on June 23, Greste and Canadian-Egyptian Mohammed Fahmy were sentenced to seven years in prison, and Egyptian Baher Mohammed received a 10-year sentence.

The National Press Club is the world's leading professional organization for journalists. Founded in 1908, it is located in Washington, D.C. Through its Press Freedom Committee, the National Press Club speaks out on behalf of press freedom and transparency worldwide.

Contact: John M. Donnelly, 202-746-6020 or [email protected]

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SOURCE National Press Club